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The Link Between Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Physical Comorbidities: A Systematic Review

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Abstract

Context Returning veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq will increase frequency of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Little is known about its impact on physical health. Objective Systematic literature review focusing on the association between PTSD and specific physical disorders. Data Sources An electronic search using PUBMED and hand search of four journals with an anxiety focus for studies published between January 1981 and July 2008, plus a manual search of article bibliographies. Study Selection Original research reports focusing on PTSD and its association with physical health. Studies investigating only PTSD symptoms, trauma and physical disorders classified at the organ-system level were excluded. Eighty studies were reviewed and seven selected for final analysis. Data Extraction Specific physical-health diagnoses were organized by system and tabulated. They were considered positive only if results were statistically significant. Total number of positive and negative studies for each diagnosis was then calculated for review. Results Seven studies examined the relationship between PTSD and specific physical disorders. Arthritis was associated with PTSD in most studies. Data conflicted regarding diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke. Conclusions Few studies have examined the relationship between PTSD and physical health. Large, prospective epidemiological trials are needed.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by the Houston VA HSR&D Center of Excellence (HFP90-020).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Houston Center for Quality of Care & Utilization Studies, Health Services Research and Development Service, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center (152), 2002 Holcombe, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Salah U. Qureshi & Mark E. Kunik

  2. Neurosensory Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Salah U. Qureshi & Paul E. Schulz

  3. Center for Mental Health and Outcomes Research, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR, USA

    Jeffrey M. Pyne

  4. Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA

    Jeffrey M. Pyne

  5. Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA

    Kathy M. Magruder

  6. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA

    Kathy M. Magruder

  7. Neurology Care Line, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Salah U. Qureshi & Paul E. Schulz

  8. Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Salah U. Qureshi & Paul E. Schulz

  9. Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Mark E. Kunik

  10. Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Mark E. Kunik

  11. Veterans Affairs South Central Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, North Little Rock, AR, USA

    Mark E. Kunik

Authors
  1. Salah U. Qureshi
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  2. Jeffrey M. Pyne
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  3. Kathy M. Magruder
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  4. Paul E. Schulz
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  5. Mark E. Kunik
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mark E. Kunik.

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Qureshi, S.U., Pyne, J.M., Magruder, K.M. et al. The Link Between Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Physical Comorbidities: A Systematic Review. Psychiatr Q 80, 87–97 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-009-9096-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-009-9096-4

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